Try Emu -- a better beef


 

RichPB (richlife)

TVWBB Wizard
My wife has an allergy to meat (alpha-gal -- see ' www.alpha-gal.org ') due to a tick bite years back. She cannot safely eat any mammal meat (pork, beef, veal, bacon, lamb, etc.) or any of their byproducts (including gelatin capsuled medications). That leaves veggies and fish and poultry.

Fortunately, under poultry is emu -- that big bird originally from Austrailia. Several months ago, we participated in an emu grill for alpha-gal sufferers near Apex, NC. The provider of the emu was Ngon Nguyen of Amaroo Hills Farm in central TN. https://www.facebook.com/AmarooEmu

Folks, you have got to try emu! It is a near dead ringer for beef, but very low fat so much more healthful. It comes in steaks, small roasts and ground meat for burgers and whatever. I have grilled it, made stews and fixed spaghetti and chili with it. (So not a real recipe here, but a great ingredient.) Because of the low fat, it doesn't shrink so much, cooks a little faster and you only need about 3/4 of what beef would require per portion. And that also helps to make the cost comparable to good beef.

I am in no way part of Amaroo Hill Farm -- just a grateful consumer! Believe me, a meat allergy would near destroy the lifestyle of everyone on TVWBB. Emu helps tremendously!

Later on, I'll post some good information about grilling for alpha-gal sufferers.

Rich
 
How is the price compared to beef? Sounds interesting, might have to try it if I ever see any.

Pretty damn cheap (Texas anyways)
http://www.emumeatdepot.com/emu-meat-price-list.htm

Probably consider ostrich as well.

Next door to me, we have boar ($23.80/lb), bison ($49), kangaroo ($23.75), elk, quail, even camel!! Prices aren't as cheap though, depending on the cut.
http://lakelandmeats.com/pdf/retail-farm_raised_game_meats.pdf
http://lakelandmeats.com/farm-raised-game-meats.php

WILD AUSTRALIAN CAMEL Burgers (4/pkg) $14.25/lb.
 
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Please read that Texas website -- they are selling emu meat as pet food, so it is not certified for human consumption. Not saying you can't eat dog food...

I have seen many much higher prices for human consumption emu, but the Amaroo Hills Farm meat was $13 - 16 a pound for steaks and $6 a pound for ground for USDA certified. Again, remember emu has less fat so a pound is at least 2 great steaks. We had burgers this evening -- six good burgers from a pound instead of four from beef. Consider that the cost is about the same as ground turkey.

The $16 a pound fan fillet is the best cut, will provide two to three great steaks comparable to a beef fillet. The fan is approximately one pound.

Rich
 
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Didn't read it :rolleyes: . Oops.

But even so, people eat bugs, dogs, cats etc and these guys still have to adhere to fo0d safety standards.

I came across an article today where grilled Guinea pigs are getting more mainstream. WHOLE! One foot, one 'hand' , one ear, one nostril and everything else in between is served up golden brown.

Maybe........

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/20...plates-why-more-people-are-eating-guinea-pigs

Nah.
 
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I know back in the 90's there was a big emu farm boom in Texas that kind of collapsed. Not sure what happened with it.
 
I had a Emu burger at that fancy French place. What's that place called...............? Oh yeah, Fudruckers

[Larry the cable guy]
 
A lot of earlier (say 10 years back or more?) had trouble succeeding because there was really no great market for the meat and the emu just doesn't produce a whole lot of meat to start with. That's why steaks and roasts are fairly small (1 - 2 lbs mostly) and a lot is just ground.

Today's emu farms mostly make their living off of byproducts like oils -- I don't know much about that, but almost any search will find lots of info. Some of these like Amaroo Hills Farm in TN, also sell the meat almost as a side venture. Ngon Nguyen's venture has gained a strong demand as he has been personally marketing to numerous good restaurants on his travel circuit. Unfortunately, the demand is so good there is not much available to the general consumer.

Rich
 
Since I last posted here, Amaroo Farms has opened another location near Liberty, NC. That's only about 45 min from us so we can order and pickup the next day or so with no shipping.

Personally, I'm not necessarily a healthy eater (but still alive a 74) and still prefer beef. With today's prices and economy I may have to reconsider that, though we haven't checked recently on emu prices.

Ostrich has been mentioned as a similar option though more expensive. Both are true, but if I had my druthers it would still be emu. And btw, Amaroo Farms now has a number of other product options including sausage made with emu and duck. Again, I'm sticking with the lower cost of beef and pork unless something changes.
 

 

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